Post by BobbyTheBrain on Dec 27, 2021 16:52:26 GMT -5
This is a Turner Home Video version of the event so the match order might not be the way the event played out, and it may be from multiple events. Not sure how they put this video together.
Match 1: The War Games - The Horsemen vs Team Rhodes
So we got Flair, Anderson, Blanchard, and Luger up against The Road Warriors, Dusty Rhodes and Nikita Koloff. I believe J.J. Dillon and Paul Ellering are the 5th men in this match, and as I'm typing that J.J. is coming into the ring so yes, this is that match. This may be one of the most notable War Games matches as I think Dillon sustains a shoulder injury here that left a hump on his shoulder for the rest of his days. Now that Paul Ellering has gotten in the ring it has become "The Match Beyond" where the only way to win is Submit or Surrender. Submission works much better in the modern era with the tap outs I must say as it's just more visually satisfying, but I digress. The Road Warriors just hit Dillon with the big hit that damaged his shoulder, and that's the match. I'm never too big on War Games matches, and this one is really no exception. I'll give it 1.5 stars I guess, it's ok for what it is, but just not my cup of tea as a match really.
Match 2: Barry Windham vs Rick Steiner (Western States Heritage Championship)
Barry Windham is the defending Champion here, and comes up with the win when he rolls onto Rick Steiner in a weird pinning combination kinda going with the momentum when Rick is bringing him back into the ring. It's just kinda alright. Hard to give a star rating as the matches are often clipped here where you're only seeing highlights.
Match 3: Lex Luger vs Nikita Koloff - Cage Match (United States Championship)
Looks like Koloff is wrestling in a Neck brace here, not sure what that's about. I assume this and the opening match surely had to be from different nights on the Great American Bash tour as I doubt they would've had this match and a war games match with these same participants on the same night. Lots of Luger working the neck here, he gets the neck brace off somewhere in there, and keeps applying pressure to Koloff's neck. I notice Koloff's matches tend to be a lot of holds that stay applied for long stretches of time. Referee Tommy Young goes down at one point when Luger is knocked into him following Koloff's sickle lariat. Dillon gets a chair in to Luger who uses it on Koloff, and then puts him in the Torture rack. Dillon revives the ref, and bang we got a new U.S. Champion as Luger gets the W.
Match 4: Dr. Death Steve Williams vs Dick Murdoch - Texas Death Match
Williams has his arm in a cast, Murdoch works the arm relentlessly. Hits him with a foreign object of some sort at one point, and keeps working the arm. Dr. Death makes a comeback, and lays Murdoch out with a shot from the arm in the cast for the Count of 10 to get the win in the Texas Death Match.
Match 5: The Fabulous Freebirds vs Ivan Koloff, Paul Jones and Manny Fernandez
Cool to see the original Freebirds here this is about the time they finally ended that run I believe, but they get the win here. Just kinda a free for all match. Nothing real special, but cool for what it is.
Match 6: Tully Blanchard vs Dusty Rhodes - Barbed Wire Match
Apparently this is a $100,000 challenge match. I'm surprised to see a Barbed Wire match here. I didn't think the NWA ever did that sorta thing, but I know the feud with Rhodes and the Horsemen was THAT kinda blood feud so it fits. Hell it's a Barbed Wire Ladder Match apparently. They gotta climb the ladder to get the $100,000 which is in a bag hanging above the ring lol. Both men are a bloody mess fairly early into this one as you can imagine. Dusty finally climbs the ladder, and gets the money after nailing Blanchard with a dreaded "loaded right glove".
